No this is not a spelling mistake but the name of an award-winning female singer with a voice like velvet who will be joining Miceal and myself on the Saturday Night Show tomorrow ahead of the release of her new album ‘Into Colour’, which you will be able to pre-order on QVC … more of that later.

I wonder how many of you have been looking around your home this week and deciding what needs to be done to get Christmas ready? That is what I have been doing as I must confess to an awful lot of ‘stuff in boxes’ still stashed in the attic room since our move to this house in January.

Normally this is okay as we don’t go up to the top floor much BUT we have visitors coming for Christmas … Chris’s mum is a definite, my mum is a potential and of course Daniel will be home so we will need all the space we can get. My idea is to put Chris’s mum in Daniel’s old room and inflate the airbed in the attic for Daniel but we needed to create some floorspace first so last Saturday Sophie and I spent the whole day sorting, tidying and throwing away. I would say we are about halfway there but at least we can see carpet now!

I also decided that it is about time we had some new sofas. Ours are at least ten years old and lacking support, plus the fact that they don’t match because I let Daniel have the two-seater to get him started in his new home so we are using one that was in the children’s games room as our second sofa, which is even older and has seen better days.

Sophie found a deal on line and while we were at it we also ordered a new rug to replace the threadbare one and match the new colour scheme. There is still so much to do in the house but it is fun when you start to see things taking shape. Once everything arrives I’ll take some photos.

Well you certainly liked the Butler & Wilson TSV, which I believe is almost sold out as I write. I am on with Simon again tonight at 7pm for his Butler & Wilson World Couture show so I am hoping for some sparkly tops. Prior to that I have Join clothes at 4pm and Ronen Chen for Fashion on Friday.

So to the Saturday Night Show. Not only do we have the Decleor TSV, which launches at midnight tonight and features the NEW handcream (you know I am a big fan of the old one but I think this, although different in texture, is just as good), we also have a live interview with Rumer as I mentioned at the beginning.

She has performed sell-out shows in London’s Albert Hall and Southbank Centre, performed to President Barack Obama and her first album ‘Season’s of My Soul’ went double-platinum in the UK. If you are a fan of Karen Carpenter-type vocals, smooth and velvety, join at around 8.45pm for a studio performance and live interview. You will also be able to order the new album, due for release on November 10th.

Enjoy your weekend.

Much love,

Julia xx

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12 Comments

If it not too late have u considered a day bed? great for lolling about watching QVC (when the dogs will let me on it) and very useful as a spare bed. Have recently spent at least half an evening staring at the ceiling and walls trying to imagine a change of colour scheme from boring[ good taste] white to pale lemon/gold/white windows and ceiling. Bit nervous of actually implementing, but have the urge for a bit of a change b4 putting
up Christmas decs.
Another expensive day yest. more B&W sparkle, and diamonique today!!

Hi Carrie
Too late for the day bed I’m afraid as already ordered a chaise end sofa and a regular sofa in grey. We have white walls at the moment and have just painted the brick fireplace white also but the colour comes from the new rug in shades of purple and aubergine and similar coloured curtains. Can’t wait to get the finished look.
Glad you treated yourself to some sparkle
Speak soon
Julia x

Hi Julia
Hope you are nearly done with your sort out and haven’t tired yourself out too much.
There is nothing worse than getting rid of stuff then finding you really could have done with keeping things. Now the cold weather is here I wish I had kept some of my jumpers for around the house. Chris bought me a nice one, but much to nice for every day use.

Sounds like you’ll be having a lovely family Christmas with both your Mum (hopefully) and Chris’ Mum too.

Is it this week you get your latest test results, keeping my fingers crossed that they have improved even more for you, you’re certainly looking happier and much brighter these days, wish the same could be said of me.

I had the onset of the stomach pains again on return from hols, the real reason I hadn’t been on your blog as much, another trip to the Drs and given medication to take for 5 days to clear it up, which it did, but then a week later back again! Chris was loosing his patience with it, getting ready to go out then hot water bottle time. Went to see the Dr again this week and she thinks I have Diverticular Disease and has given me some fibre drinks to see if that will ease things…one of the side effects for the first couple of days is wind…there’s only so much you can blame on Bobby, only joking, I could never blame him, he’s too cute!! I’m hoping that this will clear it up, although I believe it doesn’t cure it. Changed diet yet again and cutting out all sugar and drinking lots more water.
Must admit I was and still am scared a bit, especially in the light of poor Lynda Bellingham, what a truly brave and courageous lady, shame she didn’t get her wish…hopefully she’ll be looking down over her boys and Mr Spain. I blubbled at her interview.

Thank you for the advice of contacting Debbie re: Bodyblade, she sent me a link, which was really nice of her…I thought that at least I could work my arms out when my tummy allows me to. Again, fingers crossed for your results.

Hi Annette
We did loads more sorting out last weekend but still more to do – how on earth did I accumulate all this stuff especially as we already threw so much away and donated to charity in the two previous moves!! Lounge is looking a whole lot nicer now, just waiting for the new sofas.
Sorry to hear you have been at the Dr’s again but hopefully this diagnosis will at east allow you to get treatment and fingers crossed relief from the pain.
I did get my results – not quite as good as we were hoping but I guess you have to expect a few setbacks with conditions like mine.
Glad Debs was able to help with the Bodyblade.
Fingers crossed for some improvement soon
Love
Julia x

hi julia for the past two years i have been making your christmas cake since you put the recipe on your blog. well i can’t for the life of me remember if the sugar used is light soft brown or dark soft brown. could you let me know please as the last two cakes were a big hit. getting older is causing my brain to shrink if only the same could be said of my waistline lol. many thanks julia.
candy

Hello Candy
Delighted to hear that my Christmas Cake recipe has been a hit in your household …. it certainly is in mine and with backstage at QVC. I use dark soft brown sugar for a richer favour.
Let’s not talk about waistlines!!
Love
Julia x

Hi Julia,
I don’t know what happened last week when I replied to your last blog. I tried twice but it just did not go through when I clicked on to post comment.
Anyway, I shall try again!
Needless to say I was in awe of the photo’s of your pussy cats. They were so cute. I have’nt had a very good week with one thing and another. We have had yet more problem’s with our house. The “trip” switch has been going off quite a few times this week so we have had to call an electrician to try and work out what the problem is. That in itself is a nightmare, trying to find someone you can trust. Anyway luckily an old friend of mine’s nephew who is an electrician was able to put me on to someone as he would not be able to fit us in until January!!!
So we will find out more on Wednesday.
I try not to let it get me down but I hate it when things are not right. I am impatient and want things fixed straight away.
The rugby is back on. Wales played Australia on Saturday. We lost by 5 points. It was a very exciting game. We are playing Fiji next Saturday so hopefully we may fair better.
Well I hope you have good news with your blood results.
All the best , Tina S. (S. Wales)

Hi Tina
Sorry to hear you had problems posting on last week’s blog – I mentioned it at work today so let me know if it happens again.
I am going to try and put a link to a clip of Sophie’s cat Milo going for a walk on his lead on this week’s blog which I think you will like.
I hope the electrician found the source of your problem?
Results were ok but not as good as expected so a bit disappointed really.
Speak soon
Julia x

Hi Julia,
Great Saturday Night a Show as usual. Wow Rumer had an amazing voice, she came over as a lovely person and I loved her dog.
You are going to have a house full at Christmas, it will be nice to have your Mum and Chris’s Mum there.
Sounds as if you and Sophie have been busy, will be nice to get the house as you want it, exciting isn’t it.
How is Poppy, is she getting better, I hope so.
Take care.
Love Jean X

Hello Jean
Glad you are still enjoying the Saturday Night Show – Rumer was lovely and what a beautiful voice. As for Alfie the dog he was a total sweetheart!
Hopefully both our mums will come for Christmas but we’ll have to wait and see.
The lounge is almost done, just waiting for the new sofas.
Poppy is back to her old self and has found a new love … Hi Life tuna! We are feeding her on demand at the moment to fatten her up a bit and it seems to be working.
Hope you enjoy the SNS this week
Love
Julia x

Hello julia hope you are all sorted at your home and had a good clear out, there has been some good buys lately on qvc, I got the links of london bracelet went to price them in the shop and the small ones are over 100 pounds, I bought a lulu guinness umberella for a gift the birdcage one on 4 easy pays, and also the 3 d candle on the sat show on easy pay again only needed the 5 inch got the other 2, and to top it off got the peony TSV for mums pressie I am doing well at minute skint but doing well, take care Carole wigan

Hi Carole
Sounds like you have been sorting your Christmas shopping early. Those 3d candles are truly life like aren’t they – keep meaning to get some myself!
Yes we got a lot of stuff sorted but still not quite finished. Really pleased with the way the lounge is looking – we needed to do something before inviting the mums for Christmas
Speak soon
Julia x